The Black Moth

"Oh, Bob!" Impulsively she withdrew her hand from Julian's arm,transferring it to the Colonel's. "I must see him at once! To think heis returned after all these years! Quick, Julian, dear lad--go and findhim--and tell him 'tis I, Lavinia, who want him! You know him, do younot? Yes--I thought you did. Send him to me at once!--at once!"

D'Egmont looked very crestfallen at having his walk with the goddessthus cut short, but he had perforce to kiss her hand and to obey.

"Yes. I thought you would be pleased," remarked Lord Robert, andchuckled. "Allow me to point out to you that there is a chair--twochairs--in fact, quite a number of chairs--immediately behind you."

She sat down, chattering excitedly.

"Why, 'tis nigh on five years since I saw Harry! Has he changed? Lud!but he will deem me an old woman! Is he like to be in town for long, Iwonder?--Dear me, Bob, look at the two ladies over behind thatseat!--Gracious! what extraordinary _coifs_, to be sure! And cherryribbons, too!... Tell me, Bob, where did you meet Harry Lovelace?"

The Colonel, who, far from attending to her monologue, had been sendingamorous glances across to a palpably embarrassed girl, who hung on herpapa's arm while that gentleman stopped to speak to a stout dowager,brought his gaze reluctantly back to his sister.

"What's that you say, Lavvy?"

"How provoking of you not to listen to me! I asked where you metHarold."

"Where I met him? Let me see--where did I meet him? Oh, I remember! Atthe Cocoa-Tree, a fortnight since."

"And he is altered?"

"Not in any way, dear sister. He is the same mad, reckless rake-hell asever. And unmarried."

"How delightful! Oh, I shall be so glad to see him again!"

"You must present him to Richard," sneered the Colonel, "as an oldflame."

"I must, indeed," she agreed, his sarcasm passing over her head. "Oh, Isee him! Look! Coming across the grass!"

She rose to meet the tall, fair young Guardsman who came swiftly towardsher, curtsying as only Lady Lavinia could curtsy, with such statelinessand coquetry.

"Captain Lovelace!"--she put forward both her hands.

Lovelace caught them in his, and bent his head over them so that thesoft, powdered curls of his loose wig fell all about his face.

"Lady Lavinia!--Enchantress!--I can find no words! I am dumb!"

"And I!"

"In that case," drawled the Colonel, "you are not like to be veryentertaining company. Pray give me leave!" He bowed and sauntered awaydown the path with a peculiarly malicious smile on his lips.

Lavinia and Lovelace found two chairs, slightly apart from the rest, andsat down, talking eagerly.

"Captain Lovelace, I believe you had forgot me?" she rallied him.

"Never!" he answered promptly. "Not though you well-nigh broke myheart!"

"No, no! I did not do that. I never meant to hurt you."

He shook his head disbelievingly.

"You rejected me to marry some other man: do you say you did not meanto?"

"You naughty Harry!... You never married yourself?"

"I?" The delicate features expressed a species of hurt horror. "I marry?No! I was ever faithful to my first love."

She unfurled her fan, fluttering it delightedly.

"Oh! Oh! _Always_, Harold? Now speak the truth!"